Looking To Rent? Read This First…

21 Dec Looking To Rent? Read This First…

If like me, you’re new to Dubai and are looking to rent a flat or villa, I kept these points in mind before signing on the dotted line. In a part of the world where temperatures are above 30C for nine months a year, one of the biggest costs that tenants fork out for is the cooling bills, so check out the tips that helped me in this area too.

Home ChecksCheck that the air conditioning, water heaters, water pumps and water tank are working. If you aren’t well-versed with what you’re looking for, maintenance companies can come by and help you out – this is called a Site Survey. If the water tank is underground, make sure it is in good condition. Any leakages unnecessarily increase the overall water bill. A good rule of thumb is to replace the water tank every five years. If you don’t think you’ll be staying long, negotiate with your landlord to least have it over-hauled to reduce utility bills. The easiest way to know exactly what has been fixed, repaired, is broken, or is brand new, is ask to see previous maintenance records. It’s also good to know that all villas are not waterproofed so make sure you have the roof properly checked.

Chill OutEveryone has the same question on their minds: Is it cheaper to keep your thermostat at a constant 24 degrees Celsius? Or should you configure a timer system to kick in every few hours to cool the house down? The jury still seems to be out on that front, however, what you cannot dispute is that any cooling unit that is well maintained is going to be more energy efficient, creating a snowball effect of lower bills and a reduction in your carbon footprint.

Help The Environment

Regular checks ensure your cooling unit is well-maintained.

Make sure there are no obstructions in the unit. Airflow across the coils is one of the most important things for it to operate efficiently.

If you hear any sound coming from your air conditioning unit that doesn’t sound normal, call a maintenance company immediately. Delaying this process might lead you to pay for spare parts that have been damaged.